NHL Playoff Prediction Thread!

[Ryan Ro [NAPW]]

Eastern Conference

(1) Ottawa (52-21-9, 113 pts) vs.
(8) Tampa Bay (43-33-6, 92 pts)
Senators won season series, 4-0

(2) Carolina (52-22-8, 112 pts) vs.
(7) Montreal (42-31-9, 93 pts)
Hurricanes won season series, 4-0

(3) New Jersey (46-27-9, 101 pts) vs.
(6) NY Rangers (44-26-12, 100 pts)
Season series tied, 4-4

(4) Buffalo (52-24-6, 110 pts) vs.
(5) Philadelphia (45-26-11, 101 pts)
Sabres won season series, 3-1


Western Conference

(1) Detroit (58-16-8, 124 pts) vs.
(8) Edmonton (41-28-13, 95 pts)
Season series tied, 2-2

(2) Dallas (53-23-6, 112 pts) vs.
(7) Colorado (43-30-9, 95 pts)
Stars won season series, 3-1

(3) Calgary (46-25-11, 103 pts) vs.
(6) Anaheim (43-27-12, 98 pts)
Season series tied, 2-2

(4) Nashville (49-25-8, 106 pts) vs.
(5) San Jose (44-27-11, 99 pts)
Season series tied, 2-2

[Ryan Ro [NAPW]]

Eastern Conference

(1) Ottawa (52-21-9, 113 pts) vs.
(8) Tampa Bay (43-33-6, 92 pts)
Senators won season series, 4-0

PRES PICK: The defending Stanley Cup Champions make an early exit. However, Ottawa hasn't been playing that hot down the stretch. Sens in 6.


(2) Carolina (52-22-8, 112 pts) vs.
(7) Montreal (42-31-9, 93 pts)
Hurricanes won season series, 4-0

PRES PICK: The upset of the first round. Carolina has one of the best records in the league but lost their last five or something. Montreal is playing solid and Huet is on fire in net. Habs in 6 or 7.


(3) New Jersey (46-27-9, 101 pts) vs.
(6) NY Rangers (44-26-12, 100 pts)
Season series tied, 4-4

PRES PICK: New Jersey is one of my least favorite teams. However, NYR did not earn a point in the last five regular season games. Just two months ago, New Jersey was barely in 10th in the East. They've won THAT MUCH to take the Atlantic Division. No stopping them til the second round. Devils in 6.

(4) Buffalo (52-24-6, 110 pts) vs.
(5) Philadelphia (45-26-11, 101 pts)
Sabres won season series, 3-1

PRES PICK: What is with all the Eastern Conference teams playing shaky down the stretch? Sabres skewer Philly in 5.



Western Conference

(1) Detroit (58-16-8, 124 pts) vs.
(8) Edmonton (41-28-13, 95 pts)
Season series tied, 2-2

PRES PICK: My heart wants Edmonton, who did have success against the ragin' Red Wings in the regular season. Red Wings in seven, with multiple overtimes and long games. Hoping for an upset though.


(2) Dallas (53-23-6, 112 pts) vs.
(7) Colorado (43-30-9, 95 pts)
Stars won season series, 3-1


PRES PICK: I hate both teams, therefore I'm happy one of them will be making an early exit. I'd prefer Colorado but Dallas will probably take it in 7.


(3) Calgary (46-25-11, 103 pts) vs.
(6) Anaheim (43-27-12, 98 pts)
Season series tied, 2-2

PRES PICK: I love both teams, therefore I'm sad one of them will be making an early exit. Calgary in 7.


(4) Nashville (49-25-8, 106 pts) vs.
(5) San Jose (44-27-11, 99 pts)
Season series tied, 2-2

PRES PICK: Shelton Benjamin's theme music introduces the Cheechoo and Thornton led Sharks into each game. AIN'T NO STOPPIN' ME NOOOOOOWWWW! Sharks in 5.



Thankfully, no Canadian teams meet in the first round. Hopefully all four make it, and Dallas bites the dust early. Then Edmonton can proceed to kick Colorado around for a few games. Edmonton/San Jose Western final! I can dream! (Edmonton/Calgary West final would be hot too)

[St Stirrin SOB]

NHL Hockey is only exciting when the Vancouver Canucks play.

I'm hoping for an Edmonton win, but yeah.. that's all it is - hope. The Edmonton Oilers are 1-2-2 when I have seen them live.. I won't jinx them by attending a game, but I will refrain from shaving until they get eliminated.

In a sport that matters, New Zealand came up 128 runs short of beating South Africa in the first test at Centurion, and now trail the 3-test series 1-0. It was an embarrassing second innings for the Kiwi batsmen, lasting only 6 overs on the final day & getting bowled all-out for 120 after a mere 36 overs. Ntini picked up 10 wickets in total for SA.. not a bad haul, posting figures of 5 for 51 in the second innings.

It should come as no surprise that Bangladesh still trail Australia by 189 runs with only six wickets remaining in their second innings. What does surprise me is the return of Jason Gillespie with a vengance - an undefeated 201 at the crease plus a spell of 11 for 3 in just 5 overs with the ball.. amazing stuff. Super spinner Shane Warne has collected 3 of the 4 wickets so far in Bangaldesh's 2nd innings.

Inzamam-Ul-Huq was the only bright spot in Pakistans line-up, scoring 79 in a losing cause against India in the DLF Cup at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, at Abu Dhabi . India took the 2nd ODI by 51 runs to level the series at 1-1. Sehwag & Dravid put up a beautiful partnership for India, and Irfan Pathan took 3 vital wickets, including bowling out Shahid Afridi for a 2-ball duck.

And then of course, there's English County Cricket.. but who cares

[Stylin' Kyle Roberts [REBEL]]

Either you're pretty sports savvy for a Brit, or one very strange Canuck.

[nexusone]

Since My beloved Coyotes stunk up the league this year (Thanks for all the help Gretsky... get me some damn players!!!) I'll be a pulling for the Carolina Hurricanes out of pure geography.

But to win the whole thing I'm thinking Mr Rath's hometown hotties the Detroit Redwings!!!

[Static]

root 'fer the oilers, bo. i likey them good too.

EAST: ottawa/7, carolina/5, rangers/6, flyers/7
WEST: red wings/6, avs/6, flames/6, san jose/5

espn picks tampa bay over ottawa... strange. i got the rangers and the avs as my big upset picks. i was gonna go with the ducks over the flames, but man, once the kipper gets hot, he's much more of a brick wall out there than giggy.

the sharks and the canes are the certified "teams that nobody wants to play." they're young, strong, and bound to get the friction on. i like the rangers, flyers, and wings to all lose in the second round cos their first-round matchups are gonna be wars of attrition (esp. the wings) and their players are older. the sharks, flames and canes have the young guns.

[Ravager]

I'm rooting for the Oilers. Detroit has had a history of being upset, so maybe things will stay the same.

I'm not going to do a pick for each round, but here are the teams who I would be happy to see win the Cup:

Edmonton
Ottawa
Carolina
Buffalo (they've been around so long, it's time for them to get a chance. And I said that I'd be happy to see them win, it's not like I'm making a bold prediction here. Though if they do win, I CALLED IT BITCHES!! YEAH!!!)

[Stylin' Kyle Roberts [REBEL]]

Second round:

WESTERN CONFERENCE
(5) San Jose vs. (8) Edmonton
Edmonton won season series, 3-1

(6) Anaheim vs. (7) Colorado
Colorado won season series, 3-1

EASTERN CONFERENCE
(1) Ottawa vs. (4) Buffalo
Ottawa wins season series, 5-3

(2) Carolina vs. (3) New Jersey
Season series tied, 2-2

Some interesting thoughts on the first round: It's the first time since the NHL's gone to conference play in 1974 that the bottom four teams of a division have all advanced to the second round.

I was hoping for a Battle of Alberta, but man, after the Flames get shut out by Anaheim in Game 7? They didn't deserve it.

San Jose vs. Edmonton should be pretty hot. I also like how Ottawa/Buffalo looks.

[Ravager]

ravager said:

I'm rooting for the Oilers. Detroit has had a history of being upset, so maybe things will stay the same.

I'm not going to do a pick for each round, but here are the teams who I would be happy to see win the Cup:

Edmonton
Ottawa
Carolina
Buffalo (they've been around so long, it's time for them to get a chance. And I said that I'd be happy to see them win, it's not like I'm making a bold prediction here. Though if they do win, I CALLED IT BITCHES!! YEAH!!!)

.........


My wishes for who I want to win have not changed. San Jose worries me, but I think Edmonton has a lot of momentum right now. Here's hoping for another upset.

[Ryan Ro [NAPW]]

Aight...

Edmonton in 6
Colorado in 6
Ottawa in 5
Carolina in 7 (please beat Jersey!)

I'd prefer to see the Ducks over Colorado, but I don't think it'll happen.

GO OIL GO

[Ryan Ro [NAPW]]

Oh yeah, so I'm in Edmonton on sunday night. After dinner with folks, any and all should come to... I don't know. Somewhere on Whyte Avenue. maybe just the ol' BP's after 730. yeah. sounds good enough, I think.

[Stylin' Kyle Roberts [REBEL]]

Second round is over.

Let's hear it for Edmonton vs. Anaheim, Carolina vs. Buffalo!

EDIT: In other news, I'm going to start shooting people honking their horns in front of my place at the 10:30 mark.

[Ryan Ro [NAPW]]

admin said:

Aight...

Edmonton in 6
Colorado in 6
Ottawa in 5
Carolina in 7 (please beat Jersey!)

Carolina, thank you for not only beating Jersey but pantsing them but good.
Edmonton in 6! Whoda thunk it? I THUNK IT.

Buffalo over Ottawa is great, but I didn't think it'd be over so soon.

And I never though Anaheim would blow out Colorado so bad.


NEW PREDICTIONS:

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL
Edmonton (8) vs Anaheim (6)

Edmonton in 6. Anaheim's long break is going to come back to haunt them. Oil is on a ROLL.


EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL

Buffalo (4) vs Carolina (2)

Tough to call. I want Buffalo to win. So I'm cheering Buffalo, in 7 games over a tough series.


2006 Stanley Cup Finals
Edmonton vs Buffalo



What a great hockey year. Surreal playoffs though.

[Bruce "The Beast" Richards]

jago said:

EDIT: In other news, I'm going to start shooting people honking their horns in front of my place at the 10:30 mark.

...aaaand the crazy honking and screaming started about five minutes ago. Let the insomnia begin!

[Stylin' Kyle Roberts [REBEL]]

beast said:

...aaaand the crazy honking and screaming started about five minutes ago. Let the insomnia begin!

Five minutes ago? I hate you for being on the WEST side of our building. More like 9:15.